O.L. Slaton, Frenship students advance in robotics competition

Dane Stull, center, prepares a practice course alongside teammates on Oct. 30. The robotics team will be heading to the state competition Nov. 14 and 15 at the University of North Texas in Denton. (Geoffrey McAllister, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

So everyone in the stands yelled, but Shyam Patel, driver of the robot, couldn't move.

Patel is a member of the robotics team at O.L Slaton Middle School. The team was slapped with a 20-second penalty in one of the three-minute rounds in the regional competition Oct. 18 at Estacado High School. In the end, the O.L. Slaton robotics team won that round, with time to spare.

More intense moments are on the way. O.L. Slaton's performance in that competition advanced the team to the state competition Friday and Saturday at the University of North Texas in Denton. The robotics team at Frenship High School clinched a spot, too.

Robotics requires teams to assemble a robot made of aluminum, wood and plastic. the robots have wheels and the ability to lift things.

A driver uses a remote control to drive the robots and scores points for picking up items and building things. O.L. Slaton scored the most points at the regional competition to win. Frenship won the Boosting, Engineering, Science and Technology (B.E.S.T) Award. A team earns the award after judges rate documenting notebooks, displays and oral presentations.

"I was emotionally drained because it was so exciting," Mike Burk, coach of the team at O.L. Slaton, said about the regional competition. "We didn't know who was going to come in first."

It was nail-biting suspense until the last round, said Burk, an industrial technology teacher at O.L. Slaton.

Robotics competitions typically are filled with intense moments and spectators get into the spirit of things, with some people wearing costumes, cheering and holding signs.

The Frenship team built their own "spirit sticks," which are seven long plastic poles that have the school's name labeled on them and are painted the school colors of blue and gold.

"They help us make a lot of noise," said Dominique Hightower, a senior and member of the Frenship team.

Students from both schools said they have learned a lot about team work. And a sense of humor is a must.

"Even if we have a disagreement, we turn it into a big joke,' said Rebecca McGaughey, a senior member whose mother is coach of the Frenship team.

Both teams have been practicing after school and have their eyes on the prize.

"The kids are very excited; I am excited for them," said Patty McGaughey, the Frenship coach. " I think they have a good chance at doing well."